By Jason Willick
A new study from a progressive think tank shows former Biden officials are drawn to the aggressive, norm-breaking executive model pioneered by Donald Trump.
A new report from the Roosevelt Institute, a progressive think tank, reveals a surprising sentiment among former Biden administration officials: admiration for the way Donald Trump wielded presidential power. Based on interviews with 45 senior political appointees from the Biden-Harris administration, the report details a desire to adopt a more forceful, less constrained executive approach to achieve progressive goals.
The Trump Presidential Model: A New Blueprint?
Donald Trump has significantly magnified executive power through three key methods:
Consolidating Control: Tightening White House authority over executive branch agencies.
Challenging Other Branches: Pushing against the authority of the legislative and judicial branches.
Dominating the Narrative: Controlling the public conversation like few presidents before him.
While some argue this is a one-time corrective to establish deterrence, the report suggests Democrats are now looking to inherit and use this expansive presidential model for their own policy ends.
Key Takeaways from Biden Alumni
The report, focused on “lessons learned” in economic policy, highlights several areas where Trump’s approach holds appeal for the left:
Speed and Preparation: Officials expressed frustration that the Biden administration didn’t move fast enough upon taking office. The report calls for the next progressive administration to “canvas existing legal authorities in advance and deploy them early,” emulating Trump’s frenetic first months.
Control Over Spending: Noting the Trump administration’s creative use of executive authority to control the public purse (e.g., through the Department of Government Efficiency), the report suggests future Democratic presidents could learn from “the efficacy of bold resource-allocation decisions.”
Embracing Risk: A former official marveled at the Trump team’s willingness to “throw these Hail Marys right and left,” suggesting that a more aggressive, less risk-averse stance is needed to overcome bureaucratic inertia.
Taming the Bureaucracy: The report emphasizes “the need for top-down political will to overcome risk-aversion,” complaining that career staff sometimes act as “independent vetogates” against political appointees.
The “Unitary Executive”: Despite progressive criticism of this concept, the report sees value in a more unified executive branch, rather than a “federation of semi-independent power centers.”
The Bully Pulpit and Guidance over Legislation: The report advocates using administrative guidance, funding levers, and the “bully pulpit” to shift private-sector behavior more efficiently than through lengthy formal rulemaking—a tactic Trump used effectively.
Politicizing Power: Unlike the Biden team, which hesitated to publicize law-enforcement activities for fear of politicizing them, the report implies the next Democrat should not be so encumbered.
Confronting the Judiciary: Echoing Trump’s rhetoric, the report calls for restricting “unelected courts’ meddling in economic policy” and urges Congress to eliminate the Supreme Court’s “major questions doctrine.”
A Bipartisan Shift Toward a Powerful Presidency
The report reflects a broader, populist shift in governance that is becoming entrenched in both parties. As one former official starkly put it, “The process should support the goal, or you blow up the process.”
Some recommendations, like curbing forum-shopping in lawsuits, could find bipartisan support. However, other ideas, such as adding four justices to the Supreme Court, carry significant risk. The report itself notes that if Democrats endorsed such a move, Trump might just “enthusiastically agree” to use the expanded court to his own advantage someday.
This analysis is based on a report from the Roosevelt Institute, summarizing the views of former Biden administration officials.
